Automate Pulse Pro Hub vs Pulse 2: What’s New, What’s Better, and Why It Matters

Craig Radcliff
7 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

What Does the Automate Pulse Pro Hub Actually Do?

The Pulse Pro Hub is the brain of your smart blind system.

It connects your Automate motors to your phone, app, voice assistants, and smart home platforms — so you can control your blinds, curtains, or awnings from anywhere.

Here’s what it enables:

📱 Control your blinds using the Automate Shades app
🗣️ Use voice commands with Google, Alexa, or Siri
📆 Set timers and routines - e.g. open blinds at 7am to wake up naturally, close them at 6pm for privacy. Timers are also commonly used to protect flooring and furniture from direct sun exposure throughout the day, e.g. close blinds at 2pm because the sun beams through the window and hits your new floor or couch.
🏠 Group multiple blinds to move together
🌐 Control your shades remotely, even when you’re not home
🔁 Keep working even if your internet goes down (as long as power stays on)

Without the hub, your motors can only be controlled via remote. With the hub, they become fully smart — automated, voice-controlled, and integrated with your smart home.

Why the Pulse 2 Is Being Discontinued

The Pulse 2 had a solid run. It supported app and voice control for Automate RF motors and brought smart features to homes across Australia. But smart home technology has moved fast, and the Pulse 2 simply can’t keep up with today’s standards.

Here’s what held it back:

Limited range and reliability (20–30m max)
No support for Matter (the new smart home standard)
No simultaneous group control
Older chipsets and software

Many retailers still list the Pulse 2, but Automate has officially discontinued it. The Pulse Pro is the direct replacement.

What Makes the Pulse Pro Better?

The Pulse Pro Hub is everything the Pulse 2 was — and more.

Matter-Compatible: Now works with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
Simultaneous Group Control: Raise and lower grouped blinds in perfect sync
ARC Two-Way Feedback: Get battery and position updates in real time
Stronger Signal: 30m reliable range that covers up to 325m² homes
Smarter Scheduling: Includes sunrise/sunset automation
Flexible Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth for setup
One Hub Does It All: Up to 30 blinds, 30 groups, 20 timers, and scenes

This is the hub designed for smart homes in 2025 and beyond.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Pulse 2 Hub	Pulse Pro Hub
Range	20–30m (inconsistent)	30m (stable, reliable)
Matter Compatible	✘	✔
ARC Two-Way Feedback	✔	✔
Simultaneous Group Control	✘	✔
Sunrise/Sunset Automation	Limited	✔
Voice Assistant Support	Google & Alexa	Google, Alexa, Siri (via Matter)
Smart Home Integration	Basic	Advanced – incl. Matter, IFTTT, SmartThings
Mobile App	Pulse 2 App	Pulse 2 App
Power Options	USB only	USB + Ethernet
Warranty	7 Years	7 Years

Should You Upgrade?

If you're currently using a Pulse 2 Hub, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it — it's done a great job in thousands of homes. But like all smart home tech, things evolve. The Pulse Pro simply brings newer features and better performance to match the way modern homes are connected.

You don’t need to change your motors or remotes — just unplug the Pulse 2 and set up the Pulse Pro. It's a direct drop-in replacement.

You might consider upgrading if you:

Want better reliability and signal range
Need smart home support with Siri or Matter
Want simultaneous group movement for open-plan living
Need local fallback when your internet goes down? The Pulse Pro keeps running timers, scenes, and shade control via your home Wi-Fi — even if your internet connection is lost. (Power must still be on.) It’s a great feature because timers are commonly used to protect furniture and flooring from harsh sun exposure.